Explosive and method of preparing the same



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. MARDICK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. ASSIGNOR T0 ELECTED METALLURGICAL COMPANY.

"*INIA.

0F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIII EXPLOSIVE AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME.

1,335,790. in Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN R. MAnmoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovemcnts in Explosives and Methods 0 Preparing the Same. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to explosives of the type comprising an oxidizing agent-usually a nitrate, perchlorate or the like; a-metallic reducing agent, which preferably contains silicon or an alloy thereof although any of the metallic reducing agents commonly used in this art ma be employed; and a plastic izing in redient, which ma be a liquid or easily iqu'efiable nitro b0 y, usually a dinitro body of the aromatic series. Such explosives may be adapted by appro riate modification of the proportions of t e ingredients for either commercial (blastingl or for military purposes.

According to the present invention explosives of this general type are prepared in a cohesive or lastic state which rmits them to be readi y tamped into con. ormity with the bore or container. In addition to the components mentioned above, the explosive contains also a normally solid nitroaromatic body having at least three nitro groups.

One typical explosivein accordance with this invention may comprise An oxidizing agent "s 70-80 parts. A metallic reducing agent 10-15 parts. A gelatinized plasticizingingredient The oxidizing agent may compriseiiny of the highly oxidizing salts commonly used for this purpose, such ,for example as ammonium nitrate or perchlorate, the nitrates, chlorates or the like of the alkali metals, barium or lead, or mixtures of such salts.

The metallic reducing a cut preferably employed is an alloy of si icon with iron or magnesiun'z. I have used with success ferrosilicon containing 80% or upward of silicon, and also so-called silicids of magnesium containingupward of %of magnesium.

The plastici-zing ingredient preferably comprises a commercial dinitro ody such for example as (linitro toluol, o-dinitro benzol, the liquid nitro xylenes, or equiva- Specifloation of Letters Patent.

7-8 parts,

Patented Apr.'6, 1920.

Application filed August 22, 1818. Serial No. 251,024.

lent liquid or readily liquefiable nitr.0-.

aromatic substances, or mixtures thereof to which has been added a relatively small I introduce into the composition a suitable nitro-aromatic substance having at least three nitro groups, such for example as trinitro toluol, picric acid, trior tetra:

'nitro naphthalene, trinitro cresols, or the like. Such bodies are preferably used in excess by weight of the ferrosilicon or other silicon-containing reducing agent, in which case the general formula of the explosive may be essentially as disclosed in the several specific examples given in .my co nding application Serial Number 2 ,389, filed December 15,.1917, except that the dinitro toluol of the said formulae is re laced by a gelatinized glnsticizing ingredient. en

such trior tetranitro-aromatic bodies are incorporated in the mixture in the proportions above, the proportion of elatimzed (linitro body therein may usua ly be diminished to 3-5% by weight of the composition. Sinoe the dinitro bodies act as deadening agents it is preferred in all cases to restrict the proportion used to about the practicable minimum, while securing the necessary cohesiveness 0r plasticity of the composition as a whole.

A preferred gelatinized plasticizing agent may be prepared by dissoli ing about 4 parts by wei ht of nitrocellulose, rosin or nitrostai'ch in about 96 parts of commercial dini- 'tro toluol. From 3 to 8 parts of the result ing mixture are then incorporated with theremaining ingredients of the ex losive.

Following 15 a preferred met 0d of compounding an explosive in accordance with this invention this manipulative method being applicable whatever the precise composition of the explosive mixture: 4 4O Jarts of ammonium nitrate in pulve'n ized mm are thoroughly dried at e umperature below the melting point of the salt, and mixed with 3- arts of dinitro toluol which has been ge atinizcd as described above with nitro-cellulose, nitro-starch or rosin. The mixture is thorou hly worked in a kneading machine, prefera ly at about 80 100 until the surfaces of the nitrate are thoroughly coated. The heat is then cut off and there are introduced gradually into the kneading machine and in the order named, 15 parts of trinitro toluol; 32 parts of lead nitrate; and 10 parts of ferrosilicon. Kneading is continued until the mixture is entirely homogeneous, whereupon it is charged into cartridges by tamping, in the manner commonly practised with dynamite.

Small proportions of wood flour or other combustible, say about 343% and about 11 or less of calcium carbonate or other untiucid body, may be incorporated with the other components of the mixture.

I claim 1. An explosive composition containing an oxidizing salt, a metallic reducing agent.

a normally solid nitronromatic body having at leastthree nitro groups, said nitroaromatic body being present in quantity not less than that of the/metallic reducing agent. and a gelatinized plasticizing ingredient, the latter in about the minimum proportion required to render the composition cohesive or plastic. a

2. An explosive composition containing an oxidizing salt, a reducing agent containing metallic silicon, a normally solid nitroaromatic body having at least three nitro groups, I said nitro-aromatic body being present in quantity not less than that of the reducing agent, and a gelatinized plasticizin'g ingred ent, the latter in about the minimum proportion required to render the composition cohesive or plastic.

3. An explosive composition containing an oxidizing salt, a reducing agent compris ing magnesium and silicon, a nitro-aromatic body having at least three nitro groups, and a gelatinized plasticizing ingredient, the latter in about the minimum )roportion required to render the composition cohesive or plastic.

4. An explosive composition containing an oxidizing salt, a reducing agent coniprising magnesium and silicon. a normally solid nitro-aromatic bod having at least three nitro groups, said nitioaromatic body being present in quantity not less than that i of the reducing agent, and a gelatinized plusticizing ingredient, the latter in about the minimum proportion required to render the composition cohesive or plastic.

5. An explosive composition containing an oxidizing salt, a reducing agent containing metallic silicon, a,normally solid nitro aromatic body having at least three nitro groups, said nitro-aromatic body being present in quantity not less than that of the reducing agent, and a gelatinized dinitro body, the latter in about the minimum proportion required to render the composition cohesive or plastic.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

JOHN R. MARDICK. 

